Barry Norton

Birthday: 1905-06-16
Deathday: 1956-08-24
Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Gender: Male
Owned By: Unowned

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Barry Norton (born Alfredo Carlos Birabén; June 16, 1905 – August 24, 1956) was an Argentinian-American actor. He appeared in over 90 films, starting in silent films from 1925 until his death in 1956. He is perhaps best known for his role as Juan Harker in Universal Pictures' Spanish-language version of Drácula in 1931, the English language role of Jonathan Harker originated by David Manners. Arriving in Hollywood in the 1920s, Norton first appeared as an extra in The Black Pirate (1926) but was soon cast in Fox Films' The Lily that same year. His big break came when he was given the role of Pvt. "Mother's Boy" Lewisohn in What Price Glory?, which turned out to be a huge commercial success. He landed substantial roles in Legion of the Condemned and 4 Devils (both 1928), which were also very successful. His acting was well received by audiences and critics at the time, and during the silent era he avoided being typecast as a Latin lover. One theater owner in Golden City, Montana said, "[Norton] has as yet to show me a bad performance. There's a boy that is a 'natural'."

In the early 1930s, Norton could still get leading roles in major films. Major Hollywood studios started producing alternate-language versions of their prestige productions, and he became one of dozens of Latino actors needed. Drácula was one of these films, but Norton also appeared in Spanish-language versions of Paramount on Parade (1930), The Benson Murder Case (1930), and The Criminal Code (1931). In a few cases, he appeared in both versions of a film. Examples include Storm Over the Andes (Spanish version: Alas sobre El Chaco), The Sea Fiend (El diablo del Mar), and Captain Calamity (El capitan Tormenta), the latter film reuniting him with Lupita Tovar, his romantic interest from Dracula.

In addition to roles in Spanish-territory films, he had roles in numerous major films, usually playing sophisticated Europeans. With the decline in Spanish-language film production in Los Angeles, Norton's opportunities for leading roles became less and less frequent. Though he had a pleasing voice, his Argentine accent seemed incongruous with his appearance. According to some sources, he never mastered English very well. In 1933, he secured what would be his last important role, playing Jean Parker's Spanish fiancé in Frank Capra's Lady for a Day (1933). Although he would continue to work for another 15 years, Norton's last credited screen role would be Should Husbands Work? (1939). For the rest of his career, Norton continued to reside in Los Angeles and obtain small roles in films. Many films he appeared in are now considered to be classics.

Credits

Year Title Character
1956-10-17 Around the World in Eighty Days Extra (uncredited)
1956-10-04 Written on the Wind Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1956-03-23 Serenade Party Guest (uncredited)
1956-02-29 Slightly Scarlet
1955-12-30 The Square Jungle
1955-08-30 It's Always Fair Weather Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1955-08-03 To Catch a Thief Frenchman (uncredited)
1954-10-14 White Christmas Carousel Club Diner (uncredited)
1954-10-01 A Star Is Born Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
1954-06-24 The Caine Mutiny Ship's Officer (uncredited)
1954-04-09 Lucky Me Diner / Party Guest (uncredited)
1953-10-29 How to Marry a Millionaire Plane Passenger (uncredited)
1953-04-10 Small Town Girl Party Guest
1953-04-04 Trouble Along the Way Party Guest
1953-02-14 The Jazz Singer Nightclub Patron
1952-09-05 The Merry Widow Club Patron (uncredited)
1952-06-13 Pat and Mike Golf Spectator (uncredited)
1952-05-02 Young Man with Ideas Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited)
1952-03-07 Something to Live For Man in Tweeds (uncredited)
1952-01-10 Room for One More Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited)
1951-06-21 The Strange Door
1951-06-01 Hollywood Story Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited)
1951-05-11 Pier 23 Waiter (uncredited)
1951-04-20 On the Riviera Party Guest (uncredited)
1950-09-29 Mister 880 Restaurant Diner (uncredited)
1950-09-28 Born to Be Bad Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
1950-06-02 Rocketship X-M Reporter (uncredited)
1950-03-01 Young Man with a Horn Man at Train Station / Café Guest (uncredited)
1950-02-21 No Man of Her Own Country Club Patron (uncredited)
1949-12-22 East Side, West Side Del Rio Club Patron (uncredited)
1949-05-26 Johnny Allegro
1948-10-15 An Innocent Affair Rocket Roof Patron (uncredited)
1948-03-18 The Big Clock Man at Van Barth's (uncredited)
1947-09-26 Monsieur Verdoux Garden Party Guest (uncredited)
1947-08-29 Variety Girl Plane Passenger (uncredited)
1947-03-31 Twilight on the Rio Grande Rurale
1946-06-29 Devil Monster Robert Jackson
1946-05-13 Without Reservations Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1945-07-27 Christmas in Connecticut Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
1944-08-15 Maisie Goes to Reno Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
1943-05-31 Above Suspicion German Cafe Patron (Uncredited)
1943-04-29 Mission to Moscow Ball Guest (uncredited)
1943-04-01 Keeper of the Flame
1943-01-15 Casablanca Gambler at Rick's (uncredited)
1942-11-19 You Were Never Lovelier One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited)
1942-08-13 The Big Street Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
1942-05-29 The Falcon Takes Over Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
1942-01-06 Blue, White, and Perfect Man at Ship Dock (uncredited)
1941-12-25 Hellzapoppin' Party Guest (uncredited)
1941-11-28 The Mexican Spitfire's Baby Nightclub Patron
1941-10-17 Niagara Falls Hotel Guest (uncredited)
1941-08-08 Hold That Ghost Club Patron (uncredited)
1941-06-13 Tom, Dick and Harry Bowler (uncredited)
1941-04-25 Ziegfeld Girl Palm Beach Casino Patron (uncredited)
1941-02-25 The Lady Eve Passenger on Ship (uncredited)
1940-10-29 Mexican Spitfire Out West Hotel Guest
1940-10-25 Christmas in July Co-Worker in Office (uncredited)
1940-10-11 Down Argentine Way Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
1940-08-30 Dance, Girl, Dance Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited)
1939-07-26 Should Husbands Work? Ronald McDonald
1939-06-30 Second Fiddle Nightclub Patron
1939-05-20 Angel of Mercy President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited)
1938-02-04 The Buccaneer Villere
1937-11-17 I'll Take Romance Juan
1937-02-01 Rich Relations Don Blair
1936-12-26 Camille Emile (uncredited)
1936-11-28 Captain Calamity Carr
1936-04-14 The Sea Fiend Robert Jackson
1936-04-08 The Great Ziegfeld Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1936-02-27 Murder at Glen Athol Tom Randel
1935-12-12 The Devil of the Sea Roberto
1935-08-02 Woman Wanted Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1935-04-01 Storm Over the Andes Diaz
1934-12-30 Caravan Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited)
1934-11-23 Imitation of Life Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited)
1934-07-20 Grand Canary Robert Tranter
1934-06-27 The World Moves On Jacques Girard (1924)
1934-05-01 Let’s Be Ritzy Rogers
1934-04-23 Unknown Blonde Bob Parker
1933-11-01 Only Yesterday Jerry (Uncredited)
1933-09-13 Lady for a Day Carlos
1933-06-05 Cocktail Hour Prince Philippe de Longville
1933-02-03 Luxury Liner Prince Vladimir Gleboff
1931-04-04 Dishonored Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad
1931-03-11 Drácula Juan Harker
1930-11-30 East is West Billy Benson
1930-09-11 Curmudgeon
1930-07-10 Bold Love
1928-12-28 Sins of the Fathers Tom Spengler
1928-12-02 The Red Dance Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited)
1928-10-28 Mother Knows Best Boy
1928-10-03 4 Devils Adolf
1928-06-24 Fleetwing Jaafor
1928-03-10 The Legion of the Condemned Byron Dashwood
1927-11-27 The Wizard Reginald Van Lear
1927-11-04 Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited)
1927-05-15 A Man About Town Amos, a Centerville Clerk
1927-05-08 The Heart of Salome Henri Bezanne
1927-02-27 Ankles Preferred Jimmy
1926-12-05 The Canyon of Light Ricardo Deane
1926-11-23 What Price Glory Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn
1926-10-03 The Lily Max de Maigny
1926-03-08 The Black Pirate Youth (uncredited)